Adjustable nozzle



Sept. 18, 1951 M. s. GALLICK ADJUSTABLE NOZZLE Filed April 16, 1949 INVENTOR.

MICHAEL s. GALLICK 20 A TTORNE) Patented Sept. 18, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADJUSTABLE NOZZLE Michael S. Gallick, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to General Aniline & Film. Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation offDelaware.

ApnlicationApril 16, 1949, SerialNo. 87,858

6 Claims.

This invention relates to nozzles or jets for blowing a stream of gaseous medium, and more particularly to air nozzles for applying ablast of air of oblong shape and uniform cross-section.

Air, nozzles of this character, often referred to as.air knives, are employed in coating operations where a moving web is coatedwith a solution and the excess coating composition is removed with an air stream directed at a suitable pressure against. thecoated side of the web. The air, or in some cases certain gases, is expelled through an elongated aperture of the nozzle whereby the air or gas is delivered in an oblong shape such as a substantially flat thin sheet running transversely to the direction. of travel of the web,

In existing types of air nozzles the nozzle consists ofiaplenum chamber, to which are attached two elongated lips either or both of which are so constructed that the distance separating them at the point of issuance, of the air stream is adjustable. In theory, the air pressure in the plenum chamber, and, with it, the. Velocity, of the air stream issuing from the air nozzle, varies inversely as the, distance separating the two nozzles at the point of issuance of the air stream. The velocity of the air stream, in turn, determines the amount of, excess coating composition-which is removed', or, conversely, the amount; of desired coating composition which is left on the web, and controlling the velocity. of. this, stream of air is the most convenient. and accurate means of controlling the amount of coating composition left on the web.

However, in nozzle. constructions, the, means utilized heretofore for controlling or adjusting the separation ofthe twonozzles at the point of issuance of the air stream, is so cumbersome and difiicultto; adjust that this adjustmentis rarely used: Inprior-devices the adjusting means generally' consist ofa multiplicity of threadedbolts, more orless closely'spaced across the width of the air nozzle; andso arrangedthat turning any one'bolt will open enclose the nozzle spacing in the area of the nozzlecontro-lled by-that particu lar screw; Consequently, in order to either open or close theoverallnozzle opening, so as to control the effeotiveairpressure; all of the adjusting screws must be turned.

The above described construction is useful only to correct-the inevitable inaccuracies in parallelism of 'the two lips constituting the air nozzle, introduoed either during construction or by accidental damagesubsequent thereto. These inaccuracies'areovercome by warpingone, or both, of-t-he two lips by suitable adjustments of the aforesaid adjustment bolts, so as to establish sub stantial parr-allelism of the two nozzles, at least at the-point ofissuance of the air stream. The fact that all adjustments to the nozzle opening must simultaneously include adjustments to' compensate for lackof parallelism as-previously explained contributes materially to the disuse of adjustment of-theairnozzleopening as an overall control of air pressure in the operation of air jet, or air knife, waters.

The primary object of this invention is to im-- prove upon the construction of nozzles or' air knives and thereby eliminate the above enumerated disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nozzle construction which will permit a simple overall adjustment of the effective width of the nozzle opening;

A further object of'the invention is to provide a nozzle construction in which, aside, from the overall adjustment of' the nozzle opening, individual adjustments of particular areas' thereof may be effected independently from the overall adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to maintain parallelism between the knife edges determining the effective width of the air stream over the entirerange of overalladjustment.

Other: objects and advantages will be apparent -fromthe following description of the invention,

defined in particularity in" the appended claims, andtaken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the nozzle in accordance. with the invention showing. the over.- all'adjustment means;.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the nozzle; and

Figure 3' is anexploded view of a portion thereof showing one of the supports of the knifeedgedbladeand its incremental adjustment.

By constructing the air nozzle in accordance with this invention in such a manner as. to provide separate adjustment for the overall spacing between the knife edges determining the nozzle opening, and independent adjustments for the control of parallelism of the knife edges over the entire length, the use of the nozzle is greatly facilitated resulting in flexibility and ease of operation. In addition, adjustments to correct for the lack'of parallelism of the knife" blades independent from their'overall spacing; distributed at close intervals affords easy correction foreither' inaccuracies in manufacture or accidental damage which would. disturb the desired parallel relationship.

Referring to the drawings; in Figures 1 and 2 the nozzle construction includes a plenum chamber defined by a cylindrical side wall 4 closed at both ends by covers 5 and 5' having air intake ducts 6 and B, respectively. An upper blade 8 and a lower blade 8', both having complementary knife edges. are slidably mounted at a predetermined angle to one another in a plurality of complemental guides 9 and supports I0. In the embodiment shown, the guides are machined into the blades and the supports are held on the wall of the plenum chamber by means of eccentric bolts II.

Blades 8 and 8 are connected to a yoke I3 by means of pull bars I4 and I5 through links them to move at a predetermined angleto each other and to the above axis, thus increasing or decreasing the spacing between the knife edges at points of juncture. A sealing washer 20 is used to eliminate air leakage on the shaft I8 and sealing strips 2| and 22 serve a similar function between the engaging surface of the blades 8 and 8 and the inturned edge of the wall 4 of the chamber.

The above described linkage operated by the knob I9 may be installed singly in the center of the nozzleassembly, but it is preferred to use two duplicate linkage systems installed near the opposite ends. For long assemblies, a plurality of equidistantly placed linkage systems are preferred from a practical standpoint. Where multiplicity of linkages are used, each linkage system may be separately controlled by its associate knob, or the latter may be replaced by sprockets, pulleys or gears, and each linkage system interconnected by mean of, chains, cables or a gear train so as to operate in unison from a single control.

The individual adjustments for maintaining parallel relationship between the blades may better be understood by reference to Figure 3. As previously mentioned, the guides 9 are machined into the blades, and the supports in the form of T-shaped arms are fixed to the wall 4 of the chamber. Each arm. has a horizontal portion which slides in the guide 9 and a vertical portion which fits in a slot I2 machined into the wall 4. The vertical portion is provided with a transversely elongated aperture through which the fastening bolt II may be inserted, the

latter having a threaded portion which engages a suitable female thread in the slotted part of the wall 4. Lock washer 23 between the head of the bolt II and the horizontal portion of the arm I0 is used to tension the bolt, thereby holding .the assembly securely together. thread is provided on the eccentric shank of the bolt to allow rotation over a portion of a turn to make use of the leverage action of the eccentric shank in connection with the elongated Enough aperture in the vertical portion of the arm III.

In this manner, rotation of the bolt II will cause the arm II] to move tangentially to the circumference and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the chamber. A half-turn of the respective bolt will give the necessary compensat- T 8' into parallel relationship in the vicinity where the particular support engages the blade. The lock washer 23 is under tension at all times, and

thus prevents turning of the bolt under the infiuence of vibration.

The adjustment for compensating small differ= ences in the parallel relationship of the knifeedged blades is subject to the resiliency of the blades and bending in either direction i within allowable elastic limits. The overall adjustment of the distance between the blades is independent from the compensating adjustments so that compensation i maintained over the entire range of spacing between the blades. After differences in parallel relationship of the blades are corrected by the adjustments provided, this relationship will be maintained for all positions of the blades controlled by the overall adjustment shown. The air pressure may then be regulated easily and simply by the overall adjustment.

I claim:

1. An adjustable nozzle for blowing a stream of gaseous medium in an oblong shape and variable cross section comprising an elongated closed chamber, an intake therefore, a pair of juxtaposed longitudinally extending blades in the wall of said chamber defining an opening, means for moving said blades in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said chamber thereby to adjust the overall width of the stream forced through said opening, and means for adjusting at points distributed along the longitudinal axis of said chamber the effective parallel spacing between portions of said blades throughout said adjustment of overall widths. l

2. An adjustable nozzle for blowing a stream of gaseous medium in an oblong shape and variable cross section comprising an elongated closed chamber, an intake therefore, a pair of juxtaposed longitudinally extending blades in the wall of said chamber defining an opening, means for moving said blades in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said chamber thereby to adjust the overall width of the stream forced through said opening, and means, independent from said, overall adjustment, for adjusting at points distributed along the longitudinal axis of said chamber the effective parallel spacing between portions of said blades, said parallel spac ing being maintained throughout said adjustment of overall widths.

3. An adjustable nozzle. for blowing a stream of gaseous medium in an oblong shape and variable cross section comprising an elongated closed chamber, an intake therefore, a pair of juxtaposed longitudinally extending blades having facing edges parallel to each other in the wall of said chamber'defining an opening, means for moving said blades in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said chamber thereby to adjust the overall width of the stream forced through between said edges, and eccentric means for adjusting at points distributed along the longitudinal axis of said chamber the effective spacing between portions of said edges whereby substantially parallel relationship is maintained between the edges over the length of said blades.

4. An adjustable air nozzle for blowing an air stream in an oblong shape and variable width comprising a plenum chamber of elongated construction having a side wall and closed ends, an air intake connecting with the interior of said chamber, an air exhaust including a pair of longitudinally extending blades having juxtaposed knife edges, a plurality of supports for said blades along the side wall of said chamber, means for sliding said blades inwardly at an angle transversely to the longitudinal axis of said chamber whereby said blades may be separated, the distance between said edges determining the width of said air stream, a manual adjustment outside said chamber for afiecting said sliding movement and individual adjustments at said supports for incremental variation of said distance at areas near each of said supports.

5. An adjustable air nozzle for blowing an air stream in an oblong shape and variable width comprising a plenum chamber of elongated construction having a side wall and closed ends provided with an air intake, an air exhaust including a pair of longitudinally extending blades having juxtaposed knife edges, a plurality of supports for said blades along the side wall of said chamber each comprising a T-shaped arm having a vertical and horizontal portion, guides in said blades accommodating said horizontal portions and guides in said wall for slidably accommodating said vertical portions; means for sliding said blades over said horizontal portions inwardly at an angle transversely to the longitudinal axis of said chamber whereby said blades may be separated, the distance between said edges determining the width of said air stream; individual adjustments at said supports for maintaining parallelism of said knife edges for incremental variation of said distance at areas near each of said supports comprising a bolt having an eccentric shank securing said vertical portions to the side wall of the chamber, said shank being rotatable within a transversely elongated aperture in said arm whereby turning any one of said bolts forces said arm to slide in said wall guide and constrain a portion of said blade in the desired direction.

6. An adjustable air nozzle for blowing an air stream in an oblong shape and variable width comprising a plenum chamber of elongated construction having a side wall and closed ends provided with an air intake, an air exhaust including a pair of longitudinally extending blades having juxtaposed knife edges, a plurality of supports for said blades along the side wall of said chamber each comprising a T-shaped arm having a vertical and a horizontal portion, guides in said blades accommodating said horizontal. portions and guides in said wall for slidably accommodating said vertical portions, means for sliding said blades over said horizontal portions inwardly at an angle transversely to the longitudinal axis of said chamber whereby said blades may be separated, the distance between said edges determining the width of said air stream, comprising pull bars linked with said blades within said chamber, a yoke interconnecting said pull bars, a thread in said wall engaging one end of a shaft, the other end extending from said chamber and a handwheelaffixed to said other end; individual adjustments at said supports for maintaining parallelism of said knife edges comprising a bolt having an eccentric shank securing said vertical portions to the side wall of the chamber, said shank being rotatable within a transversely elongated aperture in said arm whereby turning any one of said bolts forces said arm to slide in said wall guide and constrain a portion of said blade in the desired direction.

MICHAEL S. GALLICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 384,524 Heberer June 12, 1888 616,455 Day Dec. 2'7, 1898 798,674 Haas Sept. 5, 1905 1,002,960 Berry Sept. 12, 1911 

